Improvement in game apparatus



A. M. SMITH.

Game Apparatus.

Patented Feb. 4,1873.

M.. XM. www i AM. Pham-unmemm/c az wwwa/:us mace-ss.)

I UNITED STATES PATENT OEFIc'E.` y

y AMOS M. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAME APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,494, dated February 4, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMOS M. SMITH, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented an Improved Childs `Game of Soldier-Billiards, of which the followingis a specification:

Nature of the Invention.

Y This invention relates to the apparatus for playing a childs game; and it consists of a table with guarded sides, upon which upright men are placed, which are to be knocked down by means of a rubber ball propelled from a Vspring-operated miniature cannon pivoted at one end of the board or table, the men being placed in position at the other end, all of which will hereinafter 'more fully appear.

`In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, Figure l represents a top or plan view of the invention.. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same. v

Like letters of reference made use of in the several figures indicate like parts.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same with particularity, making use in so doing of the aforesaid drawing by letters of reference thereto.

General Description.

- to be directed toward any part of the board infront. At each side of this depressed portion C,wl1ich I term the battery, are placed boxes E E to fill out the space and to contain the implements of the play. These boxes, to preserve a militarynomenclature, I term. caissons. t

The men F are placed erect at the other end of the table, in any appropriate array, and are made to represent soldiers of vari ous rank, accompanied by oicers F', and the rules of the game may 'be such that the men, as they are knocked down, shall count in the game at different values, according to rank.

The cannon yD contains a piston, G, prolonged to the rear in the shape of a tube, g, fitted at the rear with a collar, h, which vplays in an enlargement or chamber, K, of the bore L. This tube g contains a spiral "spring, m, which rests against the butt of the cannon. A detent or lock, n, passes from above through the breech of the cannon, and lies in the path of the collar as the piston is pressed back, slipping down infront of said collar by reason of its spring o, as said piston is pressed back in loading. For convenience in replacing these several parts the breech of the cannon is made. removable, as shown. I? is'a rubber ball, made of solid rubber, and is loaded in the cannon by forcing it down the muzzle un til the collar g is caught by the detent n.

To re the cannon the detent n is raised,

which releases the piston, which is forced sud- Y denly out by the spring, projecting the ball in the direction aimed.

The elastic ball maybe caused to strike the guard or sides before reaching the men, taking an angle, as in billiards, which adds considerable interest to the game, and additional value may be given to such shots by the rules of the game, if desired.

The great advantage of making the ball of India rubber consists in the fact that, being elastic, it will not batter and injure the iigures of soldiers, and can be made at a less.

expense than would be incurred in making an elastic cushion completely around the table. The value of each ligure inthe game should be marked upon it, aswell as explained in printed instructions to players, which it is customary to give with such games.

The depression() may be dispensed with,

provided the cannon, upon its under sidle, is

cut away suiciently to bring the bore nearly on a level with the surface ot the table.

Claim.

Having thus fully described the construel tion and operation of my invention, that which I deem new, and desire to secure by Letters PatentfisV l Y Y v Y The ehilds-game apparatus, consisting of a table with guarded sides, at' one end of which is placed an imitation cannon, arranged to propel, by a spring eontrivanoe, a ball of rubber against figures of soldiers and their commanding officers placed at the other end of the table, and counted of different values accordin gto their rank', substantially as specified.

AMOS M. SMITH.

Witnesses:

HEINR. F. BRUNs, JOHN W. MUNDAY. 

